Artwork Pocket for Child&#39;s Backpack

ABSTRACT

An external or internal artwork tube pocket that allows a child to carry artwork on a backpack or other carrying accessory without damage. The invention typically includes a tubular pocket that is open on the top and closed on the bottom. This tube can hold rolled-up sheets of artwork or other paper or thin cardboard. The tube is adapted to be attached to the backpack or accessory. The tube can have a fixed or removable bottom and an optional removable top. A preferred embodiment includes a substantially cylindrical artwork pocket attached vertically to the side of the backpack.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/807,713 filed Jul. 23,2015 which claimed priority from provisional application 62/118,964filed Feb. 20, 2015. Application Ser. No. 14/807,713 and 62/118,964 arehereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to children's backpacks or otherportable carrying accessories and more particularly to a special pocketfor a child's backpack or the like to carry artwork or other papers.

Description of the Prior Art

Children's backpacks, baggage, handbags and other carrying accessoriesare known in the art. A typical child's backpack resembles that of anadult with a cover that opens and a central bag-like space that cancontain objects or papers. Children typically use a backpack to carrybooks, lunch, pens/pencils, notebooks and other learning and drawingmaterials.

It is well-known that children like to draw and produce various artworkboth at home and at school using pencils, crayons, water paint, markerpens and any other type of black/white or colored writing or drawingdevice. Such drawing is encouraged in pre-school, kindergarten and otherschool grades.

The disadvantage of prior art child's backpacks and other carryingaccessories is that they are not designed to carry and maintain flatartwork or flat pages that should not be bent. If a child puts a pieceof artwork in a prior art backpack (to take it to show their parents forexample), it becomes wrinkled and degraded in the pack, especially ifthe pack contains books or other objects. It would be advantageous tohave a child's backpack or other carrying accessory that allows flatartwork to be carried without damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an external or internal artwork tubepocket that allows a child to carry artwork on a backpack or othercarrying accessory without damage. The invention typically includes atubular pocket that is open on the top and closed on the bottom. Thistube can hold rolled-up sheets of artwork or other paper or thincardboard. The tube is adapted to be attached to the backpack oraccessory. The tube can have a fixed or removable bottom and an optionalremovable top. A preferred embodiment includes a substantiallycylindrical artwork pocket attached vertically to the side of thebackpack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Attention is now directed to several drawings that illustrate featuresof the present invention:

FIG. 1 shows a child wearing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a back view of an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top view looking down on an embodiment similar to that ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a close view of an embodiment that allows a tube insert.

FIG. 5 shows the embodiment of FIG. 4 with the tube inserted.

FIG. 6 shows the tube with a drawing extending outward.

FIG. 7 shows the tube with a drawing standing next to an embodiment ofFIG. 4-5.

Several drawings and illustrations have been presented to aid inunderstanding the present invention. The scope of the present inventionis not limited to what is shown in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a tubular or other-shaped pocketattachable to any type of carrying accessory. While the invention isprimarily directed toward children's backpacks and accessories, it canbe used with any backpack, bag, purse, luggage or other carryingaccessory for any person of any age.

FIG. 1 shows a child wearing an embodiment of the present invention. Anelongated pocket 2 is sewed or otherwise attached to a backpack 1 orother accessory. The backpack 1 has straps 3 for wearing as is known inthe art.

FIG. 2 shows the tubular pocket on the left side of the backpack in asimilar embodiment to that of FIG. 1. While a vertically mounted tube ofsubstantially cylindrical (or U-shaped) cross-section is preferred, theshape or cross-section of the pocket or tube is not so limited and canbe round, square, rectangular, triangular or have any other shape orcross-section. Its diameter or largest radial dimension can take anyvalue from around 1 inch to 3-5 inches or larger. Its length can takeany value with the preferred length approximating the height either ofthe entire accessory or of part of it. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, thepocket 2 extends from the bottom of the backpack 1 up to the lower partof the curved pack top. The pocket can be made of the same material orpattern as the accessory or it can be different. It is preferred to usethe same material to achieve a uniform and esthetically pleasing design.

FIG. 3 is a top-down view of an embodiment of the invention where thematerial of the pocket has the same design, look and feel as the body ofthe pack.

In a different embodiment of the invention, an inner artwork tube orsilo 4 can fit into the accessory pocket 2 as shown in FIG. 4. Artworkcan be placed in the inner tube 4, and that tube 4 can be inserted inthe pocket 2. The pocket 2 can be large enough to receive the inner tube4 and also other additional tubes or accessories. For example, pencilsor pens can be placed in a smaller diameter tube (not shown) that couldbe inserted in the pocket 2 with the artwork tube or separately.

FIG. 5 shows the tube 4 having a cap 6 inserted in the pocket 2. The cap6 is optional. FIG. 6 shows artwork 5 rolled up and inserted into thetube 4. As previously described, the tube 4 can then be inserted intothe attached pocket 2 as shown in FIG. 7.

The present invention provides an easy way for a child to carry rolledartwork and the like to and from school, church, pre-school or whereverthe child is going. The pocket has been shown mounted on the side of abackpack. While this is the preferred mounting arrangement, the pocketcan be mounted anywhere in any orientation. The preferred accessory asshown in the figures is a backpack; however, the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to backpacks or to children's accessories, butrather can be used with any bag, baggage, purse, tote or any othercarrying accessory usable by any person of any age. In fact, embodimentsof the invention can be used by art students, architects, engineers andothers that need a convenient way to carry roll-up papers, artwork,drawings, photographs, plans, graphs and the like.

The accessory, pocket and/or silo can be made of the same material ordifferent material and can be flexible or rigid. In particular, thepocket may be a plastic or other rigid tube in some embodiments. Thecross-section of the pocket and/or silo can be substantiallycylindrical, U-shaped, square, rectangular, triangular, polygonal of anynumber of sides, or any other shape or cross-section. The design andsurface texture of the pocket and/or silo can be the same as that of theaccessory or it can be different. Any design combination and surfacetexturing is within the scope of the present invention.

The invention can be supplied with several different silos 4 fordifferent purposes. For example, a small diameter silo can carry pencilsand/or pens, while a larger diameter silo can carry artwork or otherrolled papers.

While the embodiments shown in the figures have an open pocket, it iswithin the scope of the present invention to have a closed pocket or alid on the pocket to prevent rain or snow from entering while preventingthe artwork from falling out. This lid can have an optional zipper,hook/loop (VELCRO™) or any other type of fastening. The pocket itself ispreferably sewed or otherwise permanently attached to the accessory toprevent it becoming lost; however, this is optional. Some embodiments ofthe invention have removable pockets that attach with a zipper, buttons,fasteners, hook/loop material or by any other removable technique. Anypermanent or removable attachment technique is within the scope of thepresent invention.

While the preferred method is to mount or attach the artwork pocket onthe outside of the backpack or accessory, it is also possible to mountor attach it inside the backpack or accessory. This provides additionalprotection for the artwork.

Several descriptions and illustrations have been presented to aid inunderstanding the present invention The scope of the present inventionis not limited to what is shown in the figures. One with skill in theart will realize that numerous changes and variations are possiblewithout departing from the spirit of the invention. Each of thesechanges and variations is within the scope of the present invention.

We claim:
 1. A child's carrying accessory comprising a bag portion andan elongated tubular pocket attached vertically to an exterior side ofthe bag portion, the elongated tubular pocket open at a top end andclosed at a bottom end; the elongated tubular pocket receiving andholding a plurality of non-attached tubular members of different sizesconstructed to carry rolled sheets of artwork or other paper or crayonsor pencils; the tubular members each having a closed bottom and aremovable cover.
 2. The child's carrying accessory of claim 1 whereinthe bag portion is a backpack.
 3. The child's carrying accessory ofclaim 1 wherein at least one of the tubular members has a cylindricalcross-section.
 4. The child's carrying accessory of claim 1 wherein atleast one of the tubular members has a square cross-section.
 5. Thechild's carrying accessory of claim 1 wherein at least one of thetubular members has a hexagonal cross-section.
 6. The child's carryingaccessory of claim 1 wherein the pocket has a cover configured to beopened and closed.
 7. The child's carrying accessory of claim 1 whereinthe pocket has an exterior design pattern that matches a similar designpattern on the accessory.
 8. The child's carrying accessory of claim 1wherein said plurality of tubes is two or three tubes.
 9. A child'sbackpack adapted to carry rolled artwork comprising; a backpack bodyhaving two sides, a front and a back, and at least one closablecompartment between the front and back and between the two sides; thebackpack also having shoulder straps; an elongated pocket attachedvertically along one of said sides, the elongated pocket having an opentop and a closed bottom; a plurality of removable tubes each having adiameter smaller than the diameter of the elongated pocket, theremovable tubes having a closed bottom and a removable cap; theremovable tubes constructed to hold rolled artwork or other papers orwriting instruments; the removable tubes inserted and carried in theelongated pocket.
 10. The child's backpack of claim 9 wherein theelongated pocket has an exterior design pattern that matches a similardesign pattern on the backpack.
 11. The child's backpack of claim 9wherein the elongated pocket has a cover configured to be opened andclosed.
 12. The child's backpack of claim 9 wherein at least one of theremovable tubes has a cylindrical cross-section.
 13. The child'sbackpack of claim 9 wherein at least one of the removable tubes has aU-shaped cross-section.
 14. The child's backpack of claim 9 wherein saidplurality of tubes is two or three tubes.
 15. The child's backpack ofclaim 14 wherein each of the plurality of tubes has a cylindricalcross-section.
 16. The child's backpack of claim 14 wherein each of theplurality of tubes has a U-shaped cross section.
 17. The child'sbackpack of claim 14 wherein there are two tubes, one with a cylindricalcross-section and one with a U-shaped cross section.
 18. A method ofproviding a child's backpack adapted to carry rolled artwork comprising:providing a backpack body having two sides, a front and a back, and atleast one closable compartment between the front and back and betweenthe two sides; the backpack also having shoulder straps; providing anelongated pocket of substantially cylindrical cross-section attachedvertically along one of said sides, the elongated pocket having an opentop and a closed bottom; providing a plurality of non-attached removabletubes of different sizes from one-another, each having a diametersmaller than the diameter of the elongated pocket; the removable tubeshaving a closed bottom and a removable cap; the removable tubesconstructed to hold rolled artwork or other papers or writinginstruments, wherein, the removable tubes are configured to be placed inthe elongated pocket when the backpack is worn.
 19. The method of claim18 wherein the elongated pocket has a cover configured to be opened andclosed.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein the elongated pocket has anexterior design pattern that matches a similar design pattern on thebackpack.